Cessna 172M accident near Seattle, Washington, July 22, 1994
On July 22, 1994 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N73175, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Kenmore airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS MISJUDGED BY THE PILOT. DURING THE GO-AROUND ATTEMPT, HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1994 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Kenmore · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N73175 · no longer on the register · serial 17267302
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED SEAPLANE PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A GO-AROUND FROM HIS APPROACH TO LAND AT THE SEAPLANE BASE, AFTER DETERMINING THAT HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO SHORE TO TOUCH DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES AND OTHER OBJECTS, INCLUDING AN OCCUPIED AUTOMOBILE, DURING THE GO-AROUND ATTEMPT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,360 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 1994; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kenmore Air Harbor
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.